Traction-engine



No Model.) J (3, WHITE- TRAOTION'ENGINE. No. 317,903. Patented May 12, 1885.

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JOHN CLAUDE WHITE, or SWATARA,PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACTlON-ENGlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,903, dated May 12, 1885.

Application filed March 3, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN CLAUDE WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Swatara, county of Schuylkill, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful [n1- provement in Traction Engines, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure l is a side elevation of a tractionengine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

My invention consists of certain improvements in traction-engines, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and definitely claimed.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a steam-boiler, which is mounted on rollers B B, around which are passed endless aprons or travelers G, of flexible material, whose outer faces have pivoted to them a series of teeth, D, which are formed of suitable material clad with steel or other suitable metal, and adapted to take hold of the ground, the roller B receiving power from suitable gearing supported on the engine, consisting in the present case of pulleya and a belt or band passed around the said pulley a and the roller B, motion being imparted to the pulley a from the engine-shaft b.

The travelers C are supported and guided at the rear end by means of pulleys E,mounted on the engine, and at the front end by pulleys F, whose shafts are fitted to a segmental guide, G, so as to be raised and lowered, and thereby raise and lower the front end of the traveler 0, said guide being supported on the engine.

On the rear of the engine is mounted a drum, H, to which power is communicated by means of a pulley, c, and belt or band driven by the pulley a, said drum being serviceable when the engine is stationary, and is required for winding a rope thereon for purposes of steam-plowing, 8m.

On the front of the frame of the engine is mounted a heavily-flanged steering-wheel, J,

which receives motion or revolves in a pivot, owing to its contact with the ground, as the device is either moved forward or backward.

It will be seen that when power is communicated to the rollers B motion is imparted to the travelers O, and the latter pass around the pulleys E F, the pivots or arms of the teeth permitting the latter to yield with the curvature of said pulleys and rollers.

\Vhen it is desired to lower the creeping-cloths or travelers so that they move fiat on the ground, and thus take extended hold thereof, the fastening of the pulley F is loosen'ed and said pulley lowered to the bottom of the guide G and again secured. When it is required to change, direction or turn corners, the pulleys F are raised, thus raising the travelers at one end, so that but alimited number of teeth D take hold of the ground,

and occasion but little resistance to the lateral motions of the engines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tractionengine having cree-pingcloths or travelers O, guide-rollers E and F, segment G, and guiding-wheel J, the said roller F being adjustable in the slot of the segment G, whereby the said roller may be lowered and the travelers 0 brought in contact with the ground for a greater distance than when'jthe roller is raised, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A tractionengine having travelers, adj ustable guide-rollers, a guiding-wheel revolving in a pivot, a revolving drum placed at the rear end of the engine, and means connecting said drum to the driving'shaft of the engine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A traction-engine having creeping-cloths or travelers O, pulleys E F, driving-rollers B, and guides G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

J CL AUDE \VHITE.

Witnesses:

D. B. ALTHOUR, EZRA OocKILL. 

